Category Archives: Social Connectedness

Local journalist Linda Givetash spoke with SAC member Eddy Elmer and chair Colleen McGuinness about social isolation and loneliness in Vancouver and the Committee’s upcoming report on these issues: Fighting loneliness with a community of seniors, The Tyee, November 14, 2017

The Committee is currently revising and finalizing its list of recommendations to help reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults in Vancouver. We will provide more details in a few weeks.

The following comments have been sent to Council in a letter. Our Chair will also be speaking to the matter at today’s Public Hearing at 6pm. The Seniors’ Advisory Committee is a civic agency appointed by Vancouver City Council to … Continue reading →

This month, The Atlantic features a great interview with loneliness researcher John Cacioppo. In the interview, he reminds us of the need to distinguish social isolation from loneliness, and how programs designed to alleviate isolation do not necessarily alleviate loneliness. A good read, with particular … Continue reading →

The National Seniors Council of Canada has just released a new report outlining the current scientific literature about social isolation among specific groups of seniors. This is a comprehensive review and we encourage everyone interested in seniors’ issues to have a look. … Continue reading →

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This month’s Boston Globe magazine features an excellent article about the risk for loneliness among middle-aged men. In particular, it discusses the tendency for middle-aged men to let their friendships lapse as they age. It is well worth the read. If you … Continue reading →

We are very pleased that Vancouver City Council has unanimously passed our motion calling for the consideration of accessible public toilets—a key element of an age-friendly city—in all planning projects. For some people, the uncertainty of access to public toilets … Continue reading →

A new report by the Columbia Institute says municipalities play a critical role in providing services to seniors: http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/104-year-old-municipal-programs-1.3810594

Council voted yesterday to approve a permanent pedestrian plaza along the 800-block of Robson Street. This means that no vehicular traffic, including buses, will no longer be able to travel along that block. The Seniors’ Advisory Committee did not have … Continue reading →

The Committee is pleased to announce that we were successful in our application to have Vancouver designated as an Age-Friendly Community by the Province of British Columbia. Cities achieve this designation after establishing an advisory committee, securing a local government resolution, conducting … Continue reading →

Many thanks to the South Granville Seniors’ Centre for inviting SAC members to the fourth annual Seniors’ Multicultural Festival. In attendance were Eddy Elmer, Eva Wadolna, and Councillor Tony Tang, the Committee’s liaison. We enjoyed amazing food and live entertainment from many … Continue reading →

Communications & Outreach chair Eddy Elmer represented SAC at the Regional Roundtable on Social Isolation at the Morris Wosk Centre for Dialogue. The event was hosted by the National Seniors Council as part of its 2013-14 mandate to study the causes, … Continue reading →

At our last SAC meeting, Barbara Kirby from the British Columbia Association of Community Response Networks gave a PowerPoint presentation about the role of community response networks. Community response networks (CRNs) are groups of concerned community members who co-ordinate networks … Continue reading →

We are pleased to report that City Council has approved Vancouver’s first-ever Age-Friendly Action Plan— a series of over 60 actions that the City can take to help make Vancouver a more safe, inclusive, and engaging city for older adults. These … Continue reading →

SAC members Eddy Elmer, Eva Wadolna, Sharon Fenton, Dellie Lidyard, and Clemencia Gómez had a great time representing the Committee at today Linking Seniors’ Services event. Hosted by Vancouver Coastal Health, this day-long event at the Roundhouse Community Centre was a … Continue reading →

MLA candidates for the Vancouver-Fraserview riding will be debating seniors’ issues on Wednesday, May 1st, 7-8:30pm, at the South Vancouver Adult Day Centre, 3076 East 49th Avenue at Kerr. The debaters will be Suzanne Anton (Liberal), Stuart Mackinnon (Green), and … Continue reading →

Many thanks to the South Granville Seniors’ Centre for inviting members from the Seniors’ Advisory Committee to attend their third annual Seniors’ Multicultural Festival on April 19. In attendance were SAC members Eddy Elmer, Eva Wadolna, and Sharon Fenton; Communications/Outreach … Continue reading →

The Canadian Association on Gerontology’s 41st Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting, was in Vancouver this year, from October 18-20. Thanks to funding from the West End Seniors Network, I was able to attend the conference. Hosted by the Department of … Continue reading →

Simon Fraser University is hosting a series of public forums on the topic of social connectedness in Vancouver from September 18 – 23. The inaugural event will be hosted at the Orpheum Theatre on September 18, 7pm. This promises to … Continue reading →